Spout for dispensing a foamable product

ABSTRACT

The specific disclosure provides a spout for dispensing a foamable product from a source comprising a spout outlet for discharging the product, and passage means for fluidly interconnecting the source and the spout outlet. The spout also includes a surface spaced from the spout outlet and in fluid communication with the passage means. The surface extends downwardly from the passage means in an inward and downward direction from the spout outlet to provide a surface area for retraction of the foamed product after discharge of the product through the spout outlet.

Umted States Patent 1191 1111 3,917,121

Ciaffone Nov. 4, 1975 [54] SPOUT FOR DISPENSING A FOAMABLE 3,373,9043/1968 Lowry 222/146 HA PRODUCT 3,399,810 9/1968 Bume 222/146 HA3,493,720 2/1970 Francis 219/214 Inventor: John T. Ciaffone, Bridgeport,Conn.

Wamer-Lambert Company, Morris Plains, NJ.

Filed: July 29, 1974 Appl. No.: 492,551

Related US. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 398,103, Sept. 17,1973, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 249,895,May 3, 1972, abandoned.

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1923 Scherer 222/564 12/1966Weidman et al 222/146 Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg AssistantExaminer-Norman L. Stack, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Albert H. Graddis; Frank S. Chow [57] ABSTRACTThe specific disclosure provides a spout for dispensing a foamableproduct from a source comprising a spout outlet for discharging theproduct, and passage means for fluidly interconnecting the source andthe spout outlet. The spout also includes a surface spaced from thespout outlet and in fluid communication with the passage means. Thesurface extends downwardly from the passage means in an inward anddownward direction from the spout outlet to provide a surface area forretraction of the foamed product after discharge of the product throughthe spout outlet.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures US. Patant Nov. 4, 1975 SPOUT FOR DISPENSINGA FOAMABL PRODUCT CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION Thisapplication is a continuation of application Ser. No. 398,103, nowabandoned filed Sept. 17, 1973 which, in turn is a continuation-in-partof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 249,895, filed May 3, 1972, and

now abandoned. 1 I

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention- The presentinvention relates to spout constructions for dispensement of foamableproducts. More particularly, the present invention relates to a spoutstructure for avoiding after-flow or drool when dispensement of thefoamed product is discontinued.

2. Description of the Prior Art There has been a widespreaduse ofvarious foamable products packaged in pressurized aerosol-typecontainers. In such packages, the product within the container is undera-pressure exerted by a propellant. In many such products, thepropellant exists within the container in liquified form emulsifiedin-the-product as small droplets. Upon discharge of the product from thecontainer, the liquid droplets of propellant expand to gas bubbles togenerate the foam.

Generally, an expansion chamber and/or conduit is provided to permitexpansion of the foam prior to discharge through a spout. However, manysuch devices cause an after-flow or drool of the foamed product out thespout after the user discontinues the dispensing operation. Thisafter-flow is caused by continued expansion of the product in theexpansion chamber and- /or conduit.

The after-flow problem is particularly evident in heated creamdispensers of the type wherein the product passes from an aerosol caninto a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger generally has a tortuous pathin which the foam is heated during the expansion process.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the foamafter-flow problem by providing a surface area in the spout beneath thedischarge flow path of a foamable product for retraction of residue foamin the spout after discontinuance of use.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provideda spout for dispensing a foamable product from a source comprising aspout outlet for discharging the product in a foamed state, and passagemeans for fluidly interconnecting the source and the spout outlet. Thespout also includes means having a surface spaced from the spout outletfor retraction of the product after discharge of the product through thespout outlet. The surface is in fluid communication with the passagemeans, and extends downwardly therefrom in an inward and downwarddirection from the spout outlet.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a spout for dispensing a foamable product from a sourcecomprising a spout cavity having an inlet in fluid communication withthe source, and a spout outlet spaced outwardly from the spout inlet.The spout also includes a baffle interposed between the inlet and theoutlet, and extending upwardly and outwardly from the inlet to dividethe spout cavity into an expansion chamber above an upper surface'of thebaffle and a retraction chamber below a lower surface of the baffle. Theproduct enters the spout cavity through the inlet and is deflected fromthe upper surface of the baffle for expansion in the expansion chamber,and the product flows over the top of the baffle to the outlet. Whendispensing is discontinued, additional expanded product clings to thelower surface of the baffle, possibly by capillary action, and isretained in the retraction chamber to avoid after-flow of the productthrough the spout outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of oneform ofa formable product dispenser inwhich the spout according to thepresent invention may be embodied;

'FIG. 2 is a fragmented view of the upper portion of the dispenser ofFIG. 1 with a spout embodiemnt of the present invention shown incross-section; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the spout embodiment taken alongLine 33 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS With reference to the figures, anaerosol can 26 having a foamable product such as a shaving cream isinserted through the lower end of a dispenser 10. A valve stem 23 of theaerosol can 26 is positioned in the lower end of a heat exchanger 24.The heat exchanger 24 has an outlet conduit 20 in fluid communicationwith a spout cavity 11 formed within a spout 12. U.S. Pat. No. 3,358,885provides a detailed description of a suitable hot cream dispenser havinga heat exchanger and heat generating means for use in combination withan aerosol can. U.S. Pat. No. 3,358,885 is incorporated herein byreference.

The spout 12" has a spout outlet 14 spaced outwardly from. the heatexchanger outlet conduit 20. The spout outlet 14 has a common horizontalplane with the heat exchanger outlet conduit 20. A baffle 16 isinterposed between the heat exchanger outlet conduit 20 and the spoutoutlet 14, and slopes upwardly and outwardly from the heat exchangeroutlet conduit 20. The baffle l6 divides the cavity 11 into an expansionchamber 13 above an upper surface 17 of the baffle and a retractionchamber 15 below a lower surface 19 of the baffle 16. A horizontallyelongated aperture 18 is formed at the upper end of the baffle 16 at aposition higher than the outlet conduit .20 of the heat exchanger 24.

In operation, pressure is applied to the top of the dispenser 10 tocompress the valve stem 23 and open an aerosol valve (not shown) in thecan 26. The foamable product with propellant flows upwardly through thevalve stem 23 to the heat exchanger 24 wherein the product is heatedwhile expanding. The heated expanding product passes under pressure intothe expansion chamber 13 through the outlet conduit 20. The pressurizedstream of expanding product is deflected upwardly by the upper surface17 of the baffle 16. The product continues to expand in the'expansionchamber 13 and flows through the baffle aperture 18 to the spout outlet14 for discharge therethrough. Discharge of the product continues untilthe aerosol can valve (not shown) is closed by removal of pressure fromthe top of the dispenser 10.

However, upon closure of the aerosol can valve (not shown), the productremains in an expanding state in the heat exchanger 24 and the expansionchamber 13.

The remaining product continues to expand, but the portion passingthrough the baffle aperture 18 flows along the bottom surface 19 of thebaffle 16 to the retraction chamber 15. This portion of the productretracts by dissipation of the propellant to the atmosphere to therebyavoid the problem of after-flow or drool through the spout outlet 14.

It is believed that the product passing through the baffle aperture 18due to expansion after closure of the aerosol can valve (not shown)clings to the bottom surface 19 of the baffle 16 by capillary action.Further, flow of the product through the spout outlet 14 under pressureof the aerosol can 26 when the aerosol can valve is open may cause aslight partial vacuum in the retraction chamber 15. Thus, when theaerosol can valve (not shown) is closed, the product may be forcedagainst the bottom surface 19 of the baffle 16 to initiate capillaryflow therealong.

The internal diameter of the outlet conduit 20 can be approximately 3/32inches, the aperture 18 can be approximately /8 inches by Vs inches, andthe spout outlet 14 can be approximately 7/8 inches by 3/16 inches.

What is claimed is:

l. A spout for a heated cream dispenser, wherein said dispenser includesa heat exchanger for heating cream passing therethrough to a heatexchanger outlet, said spout comprising:

a spout cavity in fluid communication with said heat exchanger outlet,said spout cavity having a crosssectional area greater than said heatexchanger outlet,

a spout outlet in fluid communication with said spout cavity, said spoutoutlet being spaced outwardly from said heat exchanger outlet, and

a baffle interposed between said heat exchanger outlet and said spoutoutlet, and extending upwardly and outwardly from said heat exchangeroutlet for deflecting all of the heated cream, and for dividing saidspout cavity into an expansion chamber above an upper surface of saidbaffle and a retraction chamber below a lower surface of said baffle,

said baffle having an aperture at an upper end thereof, and saidaperture having a cross-sectional area greater than said heat exchangeroutlet.

2. The spout of claim 1 wherein said spout outlet and said heatexchanger outlet have a common horizontal plane.

3. The spout of claim 1 wherein said spout outlet has a cross-sectionalarea greater than said heat exchanger outlet.

4. The spout of claim 3 wherein said spout outlet has a cross-sectionalarea greater than said aperture.

5. A spout for a pressurized foamable product dispenser, wherein saiddispenser includes a valve for selectively passing said producttherethrough, said spout comprising:

a spout cavity including an inlet in fluid communication with saidvalve, said spout cavity having a cross-sectional area greater than saidspout inlet,

a spout outlet in fluid communication with said spout cavity, said spoutoutlet being laterally spaced from said spout inlet, and a baffleinterposed between said spout inlet and said spout outlet, and extendingupwardly and out.

wardly from beneath said spout inlet for deflecting all of said product,and for dividing said spout cavity into an expansion chamber above anupper surface of said baffle and a retraction chamber below a lowersurface of said baffle, said baffle having an aperture at an upper endthereof, and said aperture having a cross-sectional.

area greater than said spout inlet. 6. The spout of claim 5 wherein saidspout outlet has a cross-sectional area greater than said spout inlet.

7. The spout of claim 6 wherein said spout outlet has a cross-sectionalarea greater than said aperture.

1. A spout for a heated cream dispenser, wherein said dispenser includesa heat exchanger for heating cream passing therethrough to a heatexchanger outlet, said spout comprising: a spout cavity in fluidcommunication with said heat exchanger outlet, said spout cavity havinga cross-sectional area greater than said heat exchanger outlet, a spoutoutlet in fluid communication with said spout cavity, said spout outletbeing spaced outwardly from said heat exchanger outlet, and a baffleinterposed between said heat exchanger outlet and said spout outlet, andextending upwardly and outwardly from said heat exchanger outlet fordeflecting all of the heated cream, and for dividing said spout cavityinto an expansion chamber above an upper surface of said baffle and aretraction chamber below a lower surface of said baffle, said bafflehaving an aperture at an upper end thereof, and said aperture having across-sectional area greater than said heat exchanger outlet.
 2. Thespout of claim 1 wherein said spout outlet and said heat exchangeroutlet have a common horizontal plane.
 3. The spout of claim 1 whereinsaid spout outlet has a cross-sectional area greater than said heatexchanger outlet.
 4. The spout of claim 3 wherein said spout outlet hasa cross-sectional area greater than said aperture.
 5. A spout for apressurized foamable product dispenser, wherein said dispenser includesa valve for selectively passing said product therethrough, said spoutcomprising: a spout cavity including an inlet in fluid communicationwith said valve, said spout cavity having a cross-sectional area greaterthan said spout inlet, a spout outlet in fluid communication with saidspout cavity, said spout outlet being laterally spaced from said spoutinlet, and a baffle interposed between said spout inlet and said spoutoutlet, and extending upwardly and outwardly from beneath said spoutinlet for deflecting all of said product, and for dividing said spoutcavity into an expansion chamber above an upper surface of said baffleand a retraction chamber below a lower surface of said baffle, saidbaffle having an aperture at an upper end thereof, and said aperturehaving a cross-sectional area greater than said spout inlet.
 6. Thespout of claim 5 wherein said spout outlet has a cross-sectional areagreater than said spout inlet.
 7. The spout of claim 6 wherein saidspout outlet has a cross-sectional area greater than said aperture.